“Thus far, this (planned demolition) has been a bright spot with the city as far as cooperation goes,” said Jackson County Administrator Michael Overton.

Jackson City Councilman Dan Greer said “both white elephants” need to be removed from the city’s landscape, and if there is a feasible way for the city to apply for money to help the county’s project, he would support it.

“It’s going to take every trick in the book,” Greer said.

Jackson County’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority last year allocated $151,398 for asbestos removal at the Riverwalk hotel. That money came from $1 million in federal stimulus funds.

Estimated asbestos-removal costs shot up to nearly $600,000 when asbestos was found in drywall mud early this year. That necessitates a more meticulous removal process than first expected.

Amy Torres, executive director of the Brownfield Authority, was told to search for other funds to pay the higher asbestos costs. She delivered her report to the authority at a meeting Thursday.

County officials first hoped the federal Environmental Protection Agency would award more money for the hotel project, but that was not allowed, Torres said.

Most of the $1 million in federal stimulus money is committed to other projects -- including $400,000 to the Consumers Energy demolition -- but Torres recommended transferring $80,333 controlled by the Brownfield Authority to the hotel project.

Her recommendation was approved, but it still falls $358,369 of the high-end estimate for asbestos removal.

Jackson County government, which owns the hotel property due to unpaid taxes, is in the process of seeking bids for the asbestos removal.

Local officials hold out hope that bids will come in lower than the estimated price. Unless bids are 60 percent lower than the high-end estimate, the Brownfield Authority will need outside help to pay the bill.